On Tuesday, a policy was put into effect making it more difficult for illegal immigrants to obtain a state driver’s license. It’s a new law, but not a new idea. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, creating stricter laws for illegal immigration has been popular and Michigan is trying to prove it also can halt illegal immigration.

Michigan ranked 16th in the country with an estimated 70,000 illegal immigrants after the 2000 U.S. Census Bureau, according to StateMaster.com. Attorney General Mike Cox said a person who is not a lawful resident of the U.S. cannot be a resident of Michigan for purposes of obtaining a license.

The Associated Press reported that the policy also prohibits nonresidents from obtaining a license. This may be damaging to people who work in Michigan but are not permanent residents, and could essentially deny innocent people the right to drive in our state.

Previously, the Michigan Secretary of State required residents applying for a new license to provide a Social Security number, a valid ID and proof of residency.

Now, new applicants will have to show his or her Social Security card and provide proof of legal and permanent residency in the U.S. as well as in Michigan. Proof of legal residency includes an original certified birth certificate, a certificate of naturalization or a passport.

Drivers who are in the country legally on student visas or for work-related purposes might also have difficulty getting a Michigan driver’s license, however, some may still be allowed to drive using the license issued by their home country. But requiring more documentation to get a first-time license or to renew one won’t just affect illegal immigrants — it will affect all of us.

Billing statements are traditionally acceptable documents when proving Michigan residency, but many people receive their bills via e-mail, making it harder to prove they are residents. For college students, frequently changing residencies also could make proving permanent residency more of a hassle.

And when it comes down to it, people will drive with or without a license.

Illegal immigrants may find a way around the policy by fabricating necessary documentation or skip the process altogether by getting a fake driver’s license. Or, as some residents and nonresidents already do, illegal immigrants may choose to drive without a license.

Providing illegal immigrants with licenses could encourage them to stay here, however, putting more stringent requirements on obtaining a license will not necessarily eliminate them either.

If Michigan is serious about regulating out illegal immigrants, then it should partner this policy with other laws.

By itself, tougher guidelines to get a driver’s license won’t do anything except enable more inconvenience for Michigan residents, those seeking to work in Michigan, as well as make it more difficult to keep track of illegal immigrants in the state.

This policy doesn’t make illegal immigrants go away. It just makes them harder to detect.